The Mediterranean Sea is one of the proud descendants of the ancient majestic Tethys Ocean, along with the Black, Caspian, Aral and Marmara. It washes the shores of Africa, Europe and Asia, and in the west it connects with the waters of the Atlantic through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar.
Instructions
Step 1
The Mediterranean Sea is quite deep and vast. Its maximum depth is 5121 m, the average value reaches 1541 m. It includes several smaller seas, delimited by a chain of small islands: Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean. The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is diverse, but the population of each species is small. On the one hand, this is due to the small amount of zoo- and phytoplankton, on the other, to the pollution of coastal waters and poaching.
Step 2
The Mediterranean Sea is inhabited by 593 species of fish, of which more than 40 species of sharks, 10 of which are really dangerous to humans. The waters of the Mediterranean are home to many species of molluscs (about 850 species), sea turtles, dolphins (such as gray dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, etc.), jellyfish and invertebrates (octopus, sepia, squid). Mediterranean moray eels (up to 1.5 m), sea urchins, corals and sponges are quite common. There are porpoises, killer whales and barracudas (sea pikes, up to 2 m long).
Step 3
Few inhabitants of the Mediterranean pose a serious danger to humans. Stingray stingrays and sea dragons love to bury themselves in sandy or muddy bottoms, exposing their poisonous fins warningly. In shallow waters and near the coast, there is a high probability of meeting sea urchins and “centipedes” (polychaetes), living among stones, on the slopes and at the foot of the rocks, here anemones and moray eels often hide. Special slippers and increased attention will help protect you from the unpleasant consequences of meeting them. Avoid jellyfish and scorpions. In open waters, potential danger can come from schools of barracudas and, of course, sharks.
Step 4
The largest and most aggressive representatives of the superorder of cartilaginous fish are the great white shark, tiger shark, long-winged shark, mako shark, bull shark, giant hammerhead shark (more than 6 m), six-gill shark, as well as some types of rays (sea cat, sea fox, mosaic slope, etc.).
Step 5
However, in recent years, the shark population around the world has declined significantly due to the merciless years of their extermination. It is quite difficult to meet them in the Mediterranean Sea. According to experts' forecasts, within 15 years the complete disappearance of sharks and other representatives of flora and fauna is possible only due to the rapid pollution of the waters of the world's oceans.
